5W-30 is incorrect. It is suspected that FCA switched to 5W-40 because certain engine failures were related to the 5W-30 oil. The new standard is 5W-40. Go to Jeep's website where you can download the Owner's Manuals and print out the most recent revision of the diesel supplement and bring that with you and if you get any guff I would ask to speak to the service manager.

They are sticking with 5W-30 because they probably stocked up on an ungodly amount that they can't use for anything else.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage

 

If the dealer doesn't know how to read and interpret the service bulletin, can they really be expected to accept a new version of the Diesel Supplement?

Nick, Was this vehicle purchased "as new" and on what date?

 

I purchased the vehicle April of this year (2016).
There seems to be some confusion both at the dealer & with Jeep customer service as they both seem to think the service bulletin is ONLY for unsold vehicles.

The Diesel Supplement to the Manual for the vehicle has been updated to reflect the 5w40 oil, so I assume they will be filling it with that when I get the oil changed in the future.

I'm concerned that after speaking with Chrysler/Jeep customer service, they tell me that the ECU will NOT be re-flashed when the oil is changed as the service bulletin only applies to unsold vehicles (or at least thats how they are interpreting the service bulletin). The way I read the bulletin, the flash is required once you change from 5w30 to 5w40 (which makes sense to me).

Currently (according to both the dealer & customer service) if I go and get an oil change today, I will receive the 5w40 oil, but will not have the ECU updated. The same vehicle (if still sitting on the lot today) would have both the oil changed & the ECU updated.

There seems to be a real disconnect between both the dealers, customer service and jeep engineers.

 

Got our JGC with diesel May this year. Jeep dealer in San Diego. Apparently had old oil, 5w30. Found service bulletin online and brought with me to dealer for oil change at 5000 miles.

Service rep denied knowing about it. He argued with me. Good first impression with first service visit after buying new Jeep. He did find change on computer when he punched in my vehicle ID #. I apparently was the first to request 5w40, sticker on oil cap with 5w40 as well as several computer updates. One appears to be that under normal driving oil change is not 10,000 miles but closer to 7000-7500 based on what the computer says now. Will use for towing when travel trailer built. Assume computer will suggest oil change earlier.

They did the work, no charge. 5w40 synthetic oil. He apologised

I would not accept 5w30. My experience with service advisors is that the correct info is not always their response.

Jeep is not telling us why the change. Chrysler does not have a reputation for advocating for the safety of owners and apparently also not for what is best for vehicle longevity.

 

I was not under the impression that changing oils had anything to do with updating the ECU and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think any one on here does either...
You just switch and move on....


That being said, I personally don't think the 5w-30 is damaging any engines. It is a fully competent oil that has proved itself in Blackstone tests.I believe it has more to do with emissions than engine life. Plus it provides more commonality to stock at the dealer and is much cheaper in their door than the 5-w30.... My dealer only stocked the Pennzoil in plastic quarts..even for his service bay, but you can bet the rotella is coming in drums or bigger plastic totes at prob 2.00 a quart to them.
As a wild guess, I bet they figured out at FCA, in concert with VM Motori, That rotella 5-40 did 98% of everything that the much more expensive 5-w30 did at 1/3 the price and as they always say... all you have to do is follow the money.....

 

There has been a lot of talk about an ECM update prior to using 5W-40 and that is just untrue. There is no "viscosity logic update" or anything like that. The update is for the shifter recall and part of that recall is for the instrument cluster. Whether or not the oil life meter depreciates faster is irrelevant, the manufacturer required interval has remained at 10k.

Most passenger diesels like ours have used 5W-40 API CJ-4 based oils. 5W-30 was used because it got a 1-2% better reduction in ash producing elements, and was geared more towards the diesel particulate filter than engine health.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage

 

So the ECU update that was part of that oil viscosity update service bulliten was just a coincidence? This service bulliten was specific to the

- change in oil type
- ecu update
- update user manual
- update label on oil fill cap

There was a totally separate recall for the shifter. This service bulliten was not a recall.

 

I buy my Rotella T6 at Walmart or Home Depot. Cheaper than the dealer. Take it to the dealer when I do an oil change along with a filter.

Charge me $27 for labor & oil disposal. Saves me the hassle of disposing the oil myself.

Shell has a rebate of $5/gal. till the end of the year.

Save $5 Per Gallon Rebate | Shell ROTELLA®

 

Home Depot has great prices on Rotella T6, comparable to Walmart which surprised me. They also stock the latest CK formulation of T6 too.

The other item that Home Depot sells at competitive price is DEF.

I picked up 2.5 gallon jugs of Peak DEF there the other day for $11.98 per box.

Cheaper than Amazon.

 

Walmart sells DEF for $7.88 for 2.5 gallons

 

Ye and I've used it for 6+ months... No ill effects.....

 

I think xjrguy is talking about a brand name def (Peak) not a generic from Walmart or a farm store. What brand are those for $8 for 2.5 gal?

I did see the Peak def at home depot. A good price on top of the 10% military discount I get.

 

Its Walmart house brand.

 

Stbentoak, I guess as long as it meets the spec's you shouldn't have any worry. Curious to see who makes it for them. I just feel more comfortable with a name brand for as often as it's added the extra cost isn't a issue

 

The important specs are the API DEF certification and that it meets ISO22241. If the container shows API certification and ISO22241, you should be just fine.

Here's a linky to a DEF manufacturer :
DEF Specifications

 

OK,
Please, let us stick to facts guys:

Water freezes at 0C or 32F
DEF freezes at -11C or 12F

 

Who here isn't sticking to the facts? They both freeze. Do you know if one expands more than the other when frozen?

The DEF tanks are designed to handle frozen DEF, so non-issue.

 

Great info on DEF. But isn't this thread about ECO Diesel oil?

 

The diesel supplement to the owner's manual indicates it has Electronically-heated DEF lines and the following note:

"DEF is subject to freezing at the lowest temperatures.For example, DEF may freeze at temperatures at or below 12° F (-11° C). The system has been designed to operate in this environment."

Sure, most EVERYTHING can freeze. However, in reply to the poster who mentioned Distilled water, I merely showed that DEF freezes at a lower temperature than Distilled water.

I was merely stating FACTS so that people have a better understanding of the DEF system.

 

Changing the subject back to oil. I have had inquires into FCA why they changed the oil requirement to 5-40 rotella in the 2014-2016's. Talking with customer (doesn't care). They told them not to discuss the issue. Then I got a survey about my Jeep GC asking me my likes and dislikes. I mentioned the oil issue and how they updated the diesel supplement without notifying anyone other than the dealers holding 2016's to dump the 5-30 oil and put in the 5-40. I got a call from Customer cares asking about the issue, I explained to them and wanted to know why the change. He said they would look into it. 4 weeks later no response. I contacted the same gentlemen who contacted me and he said he hasn't heard anything. I asked him to follow up. Weird I have to ask that. A few days later he left me a message and he said FCA declines to respond! Nice.

 

They obviously have realized the 5w30 for some reason has caused some type of engine part failure. They might not want to bring any attention to this by quietly replacing our old 5w30 with 5w40 at service time and hoping the engines hold together past warranty. By having the dealerships dump the new ones, keeps the public out of knowledge of any of this going forward. I'm still running 5w30, but have now bought Rotellta T6 for next service. I've had very good results from Blackstone with the 5w30. I don't toe with or lug my ecodiesel. Strange deal, but something is behind all this hush hush.

 

I really don't believe the 5-30 is any different or worse for the engine than 5-40 Rotella.... I think its all about standardizing and having only one diesel oil at the dealerships that they can buy in 200+ gal totes cheaply for all Eco diesels and Cummins...and less having to fix " ooh we put the wrong oil in " that has prob happened more times than could be counted.....

After a reasonable Amount of testing they prob determined Rotella had no ill effects at prob 1/3 the price to them.....

Why would they dump fully good and useable oil is beyond me..but maybe that was in the contract between them and Shell....
While I AM switching to the Rotella , I wouldn't have any prob running the Euro L oil for its whole life...it makes things a lot simpler for me and my 2004 Cummins which I've already used it in for years.....


Sent from my iPad using JeepGarage

 

**UPDATE**

I ended up going to a different dealership that actually took the time to look up the service bulletin, contact Jeep/Chrysler and find out exactly what needed to be done.

As per Chryslers instructions, they ended up changing to the 5w-40 oil and did the computer flash the MUST accompany the change in oil.

 

You have the 2016 correct? Did they say anything about flashing the 15's or 14's? I have the 2014 Grand Cherokee 3.0L. Thanks.

 

The problem is FCA has been a snake in the grass about this whole issue. What's wrong about being honest and inform the owners about why this change was made.


The change was made to the 14-15 diesel supplement so why not the same criteria as far as the reflash and new sticker for the oil cap as on the 2016.


They changed the spec so don't you think either a new oil cap with the correct oil shown or a sticker would be mandatory as a reference for future maintenance.


I'm sure there are a lot of JGC owners out there who don't follow this forum and have no idea about the change.


A mailer to all owners advising of the change should be the minimum effort FCA should do.


This whole situation smells like a barrel of dead fish on a slow boat from Italy.

 

Wireman, back in July when I found out about the change, went to the dealer and had them dump out the 5-30 that they put in 2 weeks earlier. They put the Rotella 5-40 in and gave me a new oil cap. No charge for any of it. As far as flashes go. I have no idea for my 2015 if it requires the flash. My Jeep runs perfect so I'm really not interested in getting the flash. I also didn't do the S-27 as I have no issues with my shifter. If they ever retrofit the 2016 shifter into the 2014's and 2015's then I will do it. But that band aid fix is not for me. Some folks have said it has messed up their shifter. I agree FCA should tell us why the change to Rotella. I wonder what the RAM guys think?

 

The PCM flash for the oil change is available only for the '16. It's not required in any Eco in order to run the new spec 5w40 oil.

 

I understand the flash is right now, for the 2016. I assume it changes the way the oil life monitor is read for the new oil. Maybe on how fast the engine comes to operating temp. Could be wrong. Anyone know for sure?


To me, changing the spec on oil isn't a minor thing. A TSB should be issued for the 14-15 model years, just like the 2016.


My question is why the flash is done for 1 year but not the rest. Sure the Rotella can be run safely, which I do have now, but the way that FCA has presented or not presented this change is a joke.


I did do the S-27 with no issues, don't like the way it goes to park if I'm backing into the garage with the driver door open and no seat belt on, but I live with it.


10-4 on the retrofit with the 2016 shifter. That's the way it should be done, but I doubt FCA will ever spend the money for that.

 

Wireman: I agree with you 100%. I understand the flash is for the 2016 only. Bounty Hunter here is the question. Why the flash for your model. What is different from the 2016 from the 2014-2015. Why did they flash it? FCA is CYA'ng for something.
By the way my diesel runs a little quieter with the Rotella 5-40.

 

Has your fuel mileage changed with the 5w40?

 

chadg2, For me I haven't really noticed any change. A run through a full tank on the highway would be the best way for me to tell.


Haven't had the chance to do that yet. Really haven't noticed a change in quietness either. Of course my senior hearing doesn't help.

 

I can't hardly believe there is much change in either engine noise or fuel mileage from the oil. Some swear it's quieter, some say mileage has dropped. I'll be changing mine soon to 5w40. Not convinced Rotella is the best 5w40 I could be putting in, but it sure is easy to find almost anywhere. Who knows maybe next year there will be another(under the radar)oil spec. change. We the guinea pigs of the ecodiesel.

 

Chad and Wireman,
It definitely got a little quieter. Also no change in mileage. Get around 25 city and 30 hyway. Can get higher mileage on hyway but our speed limits are 75 and 80 and that is what I drive. I have seen 32 before driving 70. When towing 16-19. The 16 is usually towing into a head wind.
Mike

 

You also had the flash done on yours prior to 5w40. Maybe the flash included a very slight engine timing change. That would explain less noise. Right?

 

Nope, I have a 2015 so no flash. Mileage is still great. I just noticed it was a little quieter (not much) at start up and especially after it warms up a bit. The vehicle runs great. My only complaint is the turbo lag. Which overtime you learn to feather your foot to work with the turbo.

 

GDE Hot Tune works wonders for the turbo lag. I wouldn't be without it. Thanks for the info.